Lauren's nomination story

"Lauren has achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism. She has a lot of pain in her legs and back, uses a wheelchair but she doesn't let it hold her back. Three years ago, she started swimming to try and help with the pain. She has developed so far that she swam in the DSE Junior National disability championships this year and won three gold medals. Her achievements have given her more self-belief and made her start to feel that she is capable and she can see beyond her disability. Through her swimming, she has learned to communicate with others and overcome some of the fears that she has about talking to new people. She actively looks forward to her swimming and the joy that she has about her is truly inspirational and she tries her best to ignore her pain and live her life to the maximum that she can.I won 4 gold medals and a silver at the national dwarf games this year as well. I also won the Sutton disabled sportsperson of the year award in July 2011."